Some thoughts on random things

Top 14 Rugby Final: ASM Clermont Auvergne vs Stade Toulousain

One of the greatest rivalries in French sports might well be the one between ASM Clermont Auvergne and Stade Toulousian. Clermont-Ferrand, a small town in the Auvergne region has never won one national championship in the club history and to make matters worse they have lost a lot of finals against their arch rivals from Toulouse. They have reached the finals eight times and I was lucky enough to be in Clermont in 2001 when they played their semifinal match. At that time my sister was studying in the town and me and my mother were visiting her. While we were walking through in inner city in the evening after dinner we were wondering why all the streets were deserted. My sister explained then, that everybody was watching the semifinal. When the match ended the whole town erupted into one huge party and people were running around in yellow and blue, the club’s colours.
Now, while they haven’t won a national championship ASM Clermont Auvergne have made a name for themselves in European club competition, winning the European Challenge Cup twice (1999, 2007). Stade Toulousain meanwhile represent the top class of French rugby. Along with Stade Français they dominated the French Top 14 League.
So tonight’s final saw Clermont and Toulouse face each other once again and with the ongoing professionalism in rugby that match featured a lot of top class players. Clermont had French international winger Aurelian Rougerie, Napolioni Vonowale Nalaga from Fiji or World Cup John Smit from South Africa, although the latter sat on the bench at the start of the game. Toulouse featured Cédric Heymans, Yannick Jauzion, Jean-Baptiste Élissalde from the French national squad, Tongan No.8 Finau Maka or All Black Byron Kelleher. All that class put on some brilliant passing performances on the pitch as well as some tight defending. The first half ended in a draw (10-10) and after the restart both teams had huge chances, but it was Toulouse who broke open the tie with a penalty and a try after almost one hour (10-20). Clermont desperately tried to claw their way back into the game and after a penalty they were in stricking distance once again (13-20), but some poor defending led to yet another Toulouse penalty (10-23) and this buried Clermont’s dreams of the title once and for all again. Their quest will continue and so will Toulouse remain their nemesis for another year. The final score was 20-26 after another penalty converted by Toulouse in the final minute and a try by Clermont with the final whistle. It was those two penalties that cost them.

It has to be noted that All Black Daniel Carter, who probably is the world’s best fly-half at the moment, will transfer to France for the next season where he will play for USA Perpignan. This alone will make the club a contender for the title.